ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Bangor center fielder Juan Silvestre threw out Allentown’s Greg Schmidt at the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning to preserve a 2-1 victory for the Lumberjacks over the Ambassadors in the first game of the season for both teams.

“We left a lot of guys on base,” said Lumberjacks general manager Curt Jacey, “but we’ll take a win any way we can get it.”

The two teams play again tonight at 7.

The game was scoreless through five innings. Ambassador starter John Dillinger pitched in and out of trouble in each of his first five innings, stranding eight runners, but the Lumberjacks broke through in the top of the sixth.

Stephen King singled with one out, Todd Brock singled, and then a Mo Blakeney single scored King. After Dillinger got another out, catcher Brad Hargreaves reached on a Winter Adames error. Blakeney was thrown out after being caught in a rundown to end the inning.

The Ambassadors got their lone run in the bottom of the seventh inning with a leadoff home run from Vic Davilla over the right field wall.

The Ambassadors threatened to tie the game in the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings. They left two runners on in both the seventh and the eighth, and after Schmidt was thrown out at the plate in the ninth, Chris Hafich hit into a game-ending double play.

Bangor starter Jeff Sparks pitched 5 2/3 strong innings, allowing only one hit and striking out eight for the win. Santiago Henry picked up the save, pitching 1 1/3 innings to close the game. Dillinger took the loss.

Sparks’ effort pleased Jacey.

“He did what a No. 1 pitcher is supposed to do,” he said.

The weather during the game – 45 degrees at game time with off-and-on drizzle – contributed to Sparks leaving early.

“That, and it was his first time out,” said Jacey.